A laid-back peninsula with sparkling beaches, top surf spots, and a village-like center all just minutes from downtown.
Take a short ride across San Diego Bay or cruise over a stunning arched bridge and instantly get that island vibe. Coronado is so geographically close to San Diego yet feels far away. What makes it so special? Maybe it’s the miles of perfect white sand, made possible by deposits of the crystal-like mica mineral. Perhaps it’s the gentle swells of the Pacific that lure the surf crowd. Or then again, it might be the cutesy artisanal shops and sidewalk cafés. Whatever it is, you are going to have a good time.
Naturally, any shortlist of things to do in Coronado will feature its five beaches. Coronado Beach regularly makes it into the top 10 list of U.S. beaches by coastal connoisseur Dr. Beach. See for yourself by feeling the sand run between your toes while snapping selfies with the perfect backdrop. Jump on a kayak, paddleboard, or surfboard and hit the deep-blue water. Or, release your romantic side on a gondola tour.
Out of the water, feel like a movie star with a walk around the gardens of Hotel del Coronado. Some say that it inspired L. Frank Baum to write The Emerald City of Oz. Also sure to inspire is a bike ride along sleepy streets and past eclectic beach homes with manicured gardens. Don’t be put off by the roaring sounds from above, though. That’s just the aircraft of the U.S. Navy coming into land at their airfield.
And there’s still more to do. Orange Avenue changes from a drinking and dining scene to an area of boutique shops and galleries as it travels from the beach to Coronado Ferry Landing.